Blood clots jeopardize Timonen's career; Flyers sign Del Zotto

Associated Press
Veteran Flyer Kimmo Timonen is in the hospital in his native Finland after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg and two in his lungs, the club announced Tuesday. Timonen, 39, had an issue with clots back in 2008 following an ankle injury, and the Flyers have signed free agent Michael Del Zotto as a precaution.

Kimmo Timonen has had issues with his blood clots before. It was an unfortunate time, coming during the 2008 playoffs and forcing the Flyers’ top defenseman out of action then.

But that problem came with an injury near the ankle. Now, Timonen is facing a more serious situation, as he’s been in a hospital in Finland, diagnosed with a clot in his right leg and two in his lungs.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall, in announcing Timonen’s situation Tuesday, didn’t obscure the depth of concern the club has for him.

“I hate to even speculate, but I do know this could be a long-term thing and we have to prepare as an organization like it is a long-term thing,” Hextall said. “Could he play next season? I don’t have an answer to that.”

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Timonen, 39, signed a one-year contract extension in June worth a base salary of $2 million but with bonus clauses that could greatly enhance the value. Now he realistically has to wonder if he’ll play another game in a Flyers uniform. If he’s prone to blood clots, Timonen likely won’t be permitted to play while on blood thinners, probably for a prolonged period.

“I don’t know,” Hextall said. “I guess it’s easy to speculate that ... given the fact that it’s happened again. But I don’t really have the answer to that. I don’t want to speculate.

“I do know he’s in stable condition, he’s doing well and word is that he’s supposed to be discharged (Wednesday),” Hextall added. “So I think first and foremost we’re worried about Kimmo Timonen the person, not the hockey player. Obviously we have to look at both parts of it, but everything we’ve heard about Kimmo is he’s resting and doing well.”

The depth of the Flyers’ concern was also shown in how quickly they moved to bolster their defense with Timonen’s shaky status. Shortly after the Tuesday announcement, the Flyers made official the signing of free agent defenseman Michael Del Zotto to a one-year contract reportedly worth $1.3 million. They had interest in him early in the UFA period that began July 1, but held off along with everybody else.

If Del Zotto, 24, plays anywhere near the form he flashed for a couple of years as a New York Ranger, the Flyers have a bargain. But in a disappointing 2013-14, Del Zotto was paid $2.9 million with a $2.55M cap hit. The Rangers dumped him in a January trade with Nashville for Kevin Klein. That step-back season had an impact, as no one moved on signing Del Zotto until now.

On Twitter, he posted: “Extremely excited to join @nhlflyers. Can’t wait for the season to start and join the orange and black.”

Meanwhile, Hextall said Timonen had been dealing for three days with calf pain and assumed he’d pulled a muscle there during a workout. When the pain persisted, he consulted a physician friend who advised him to have the problem checked out in a hospital, where it was diagnosed.

While he hadn’t talked to Timonen as of late Tuesday, Hextall said they’d traded texts. Club medical personnel have already been consulting with Timonen’s doctors in Finland, and Hextall said Timonen will be re-evaluated as soon as he’s allowed to fly to Philadelphia, which is expected to be in another two or three weeks.

“He was working out hard and he was getting ready for the season,” Hextall said. “Then this happened. I think he was as shocked as anybody.”

From the texts, Hextall said, “He seemed very frustrated, but I think we’re all happy for Kimmo, and (his wife) Johanna and his three children, that he’s doing fine.”

Timonen was similarly frustrated the last time he dealt with blood clot issues, which came after he took a shot off his foot during a playoff game against Montreal in ’08. More than six years later, he’s still a defensive key to the Flyers’ immediate fortunes.

The addition of Del Zotto figures to help, but it’s too early to count on any contributions from either Shayne Gostisbehere or Robert Hagg, who seemingly are at least one growing year in the AHL away from solid candidacy for the Flyers’ defensive corps.

Del Zotto, a first-round draft pick (20th overall) by the Rangers in 2008, scored 121 points in 292 games for them over parts of five seasons. But he had just two goals and 11 points with them last season when he was traded to the Predators Jan. 22. In 25 games with Nashville, Del Zotto had but a goal and four assists, moving them to say a fast goodbye to him.